Wheeled toy



March 15, 1949. H. B. MORRIS 2,464,338

WHEELED TOY Filed Dec. 16, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 [(10612 for Haraid Mowzlx H. B. MORRIS March 15, 1949.

WHEELED TOY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 16, 1946 In #812 101 Haroid3.1110 r1 12:

H. B; MORRIS WHEELED TOY March 15, 1949.

Filed Dec. 16, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 o 3 1 :1]. 6' E Inventor Harold B.Morris WA; f

Patented Mar. 15, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WHEELED TOY Harold B.Morris, Akron, Ohio Application December 16, 1946, Serial No. 716,568

3 Claims.

My invention relates to wheeled toys.

This application is a continuation in part of divisible subject matterfrom that now claimed therein of my allowed application for patent forWheeled sounding toy, S. N. 306,513, filed February 28, 1939, now PatentNo. 2,428,124.

An object of my invention is to provide a structure which will provide aplurality of air impulses on each revolution of a set of wheels of thewheeled toy. These pluralities of impulses may be employed tosuccessively actuate separate sound devices or successively inflatepneumatic toy portions or to alternately actuate a sound device andactuate an inflatable portion during said revolution of said set ofwheels, or if desired said wheeled toy may be constructed to function sothat said plurality of impulses may occur simultaneously at a point insaid revolution. Where a plurality of sound devices are actuated duringeach revolution of the wheel, it is obvious that my improved structuremay make a succession of sounds produced so rapidly as to substantiallyproduce a blended chord, or if desired more slowly to produce thesuccessive notes of a scale or tune. Where pneumatic portions of a toyare successively deflated and inflated by each impulse, it is apparentthat I am enabled to provide a pneumatic toy employing one or morefigures having inflatable portions successively rapid- 1y actuated tosimulate intense animation or action.

A further object of my invention is to provide a toy of the abovedesirable characteristics constructed of a few, simple but strong andeasily replaceable parts.

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appearwill be best understood from a description of the accompanying drawingswhich illustrate various embodiments thereof.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of a wheeled toyconstructed in accordance with my invention comprising a sounding toyhaving air pump means and sounding means.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of another embodiment of my inventioncomprising a wheeled animated toy having two boxers mounted thereon, onewith portions inflated and the other with complementary portionsdeflated.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the embodiment of my invention shown inFig. 3 showing the two improvements in boxers having their oppositecomplementary portions respectively deflated and inflated.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a further embodiment of my inventioncomprising a combination sound and animated wheeled toy having twopeople in the act of embracing with the successive air pulsationsthereof causing such embracing motion and a sound between each embraceduring each revolution of said set of wheels.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference generally indicatelike parts throughout, it! generally indicates a wheeled toy constructedin accordance with my invention.

Such a wheeled toy usually includes a frame I 2 of substantially thelength of the toy and usually provided with a floor M for mounting ofthe toy elements thereon and provided with suitable means for mountingthe axles thereon, namely, the front axle l1 having the wheels 19 on theends thereof and the rear axle 20 having the wheels 22 on the endsthereof. One of said axles H or 20, in the embodiment shown the rearaxle 20, is rotatable on movement of the set oi. wheels 22 and isprovided with eccentric crank means 24, in the embodiment showncomprising an eccentric crank portion 24 rotatable simultaneously withthe wheels with the same R. P. Ms. In the embodiment shown, theeccentric crank. portion 24 is preferably provided with the roller 26thereon. The plurality of air impulses on each revolution of the set ofwheels 22 are provided. by said eccentric crank portion 24, or crankmeans successively contacting a plurality of air sacks on eachrevolution thereof in synchronism with each revolution of the set ofwheels. For this purpose I arrange a succession of a plurality ofdeflatable, self-inflatable air sacks, in the embodiments shown the twoair sacks 28 and 28 in succession on the inner periphery of thecylindrical wall 38 of a casing 40 mounted over said rear axle 22 tosurround the orbit of said eccentric crank portion, said wall 38 beinlocated concentrically of said axle and at a slightly circumferentiallyspaced distance from said orbit, said air sacks 28 and 2B being of sucha size that they are successively deflated by said eccentric crankportion 24 as it travels on its orbit. Said air sacks 28 and 28* arepreferably constructed of a suitable elastic and resilient material,preferably rubber, that is capable of returning to a self-inflatableposition after compression or deflating. Said eccentric crank portion 24thus successively contacts said air sacks 28 and 28 to successivelydeflate them against the inner periphery of said cylindrical wall 38 oneach revolution of said eccentric crank portion 24. The sacks 28 and 28are in the nature of an atomizer bulb and may, if desired, be similarlyprovided with a one-way valve as is often employed in such atomizerbulbs to permit the intake of air for self-inflation thereof.

In all embodiments shown said cylinder is provided with suitabl orifices42 and 42 on the periphery thereof to receive the open neck portions 30and 30 of said air sacks, in the embodiment shown being located atdiametric portions of said cylinder wall 38.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I have shownmy invention as applied to a wheeled sounding toy ill, whereas in theembodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4, I have shown myinvention as applied to a wheeled animated toy I i1 and in theembodiments shown in Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown my invention as appliedto a combination wheeled sounding and animated toy l0.

Insofar as the principles of my invention are concerned, it is obviousthat any type of locomotion may be employed for the wheeled toy, namely,that it may be operated by electrical power, mechanical power, or byhuman or animal power itself.

My invention may be adapted to simulate sounds which have particularappeal to children and for this purpose I employ said succession of airimpulses to actuate the sounding means it and 16 as shown in Figs. 1 and2 preferably composed of a plurality of reeds each preferably ofdifierent vibratory characteristics capable of producing differentsounds. The type of reeds used are preferably such as shown in mycopending application S. N. 306,513, now Patent No. 2,428,124, althoughif desired, other types of sounding devices may be employed. As statedhitherto, the respective reeds are adapted to oscillate in use.

In order to reflect and concentrate the sound produced by the individualreed means, I preferably employ in combination therewith, horn means H!for said reeds, in my preferred embodiment comprising an individual hornI8 and l8 for each respective reed l 6 and IG The respective reeds I 6*and 16' are mounted in the respec tive horns and in the embodiment shownthe ends 4% and N of the open neck portions 38 and 30 preferably have abead te or 46' to enclose the smaller ends of said respective horns i8and I8. It is obvious that any type of reed structure known in the artmay be employed, preferably one as shown of a size less than the area ofthe horn mouth piece so as to permitan influx of air through said mouthpiece from the outer end of the horn for a purpose to be described, andyet capable of vibration on the efflux of air out through said horn toprovide the desired sound. It is thus apparent that for this purpose theareas of the reed structures w and lfi are less respectively than theareas of the respective mouth pieces 36 and 36 of said horns. While Ipreferably employ the deflatable air sacks Mi and 28*, it is obviousthat any of the equivalent types of air pumps may b employed, such as astandard type of bellows, pistons, diaphragms, etc. .I have found thatfor purposes of cheapness, any suitable type of rubber air sack may beemployed, preferably one which is inherently selfinflatable, namely, onein which the rubber tends to resiliently resume its original shape, theair for this purpose of self-inflation in my preferred embodimentpassing around the portions of the horn mouth pieces 36 and 36 not takenup by the respective reed structures It? and I6 It is thus obvious thaton rotation of the axle it, the roller 26 will successively pass overthe surfaces of the air sacks and compress them against the innerperiphery of said cylinder 40 to deflate them so that the air beingforced out will actuate the sounding means. When the roller 26 haspassed over the surface of the air sacks they will resiliently inflatethemselves to their original position drawing air back through thesounding means and necks so as to be ready for later deflation.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4 I have shownfigures simulative of two boxers. Each boxer 48 or 50 has a portion 52or 54 respectively capable of being inflated or deflated uponactuation-of the toy. Although I have shown arm portions 52 and 54 ofeach figure 68 and 50 capable of being actuated, it is under-- stoodthat the whole object may be constructed to be animated. Said armportions may be constructed of a rubber or any suitable material thatcan be formed into a part designed to hang loosely until inflated, butnot of resilient self-inflatable material like the air sacks 28 and 28*.Upon. inflation the portion may come to any position that it be designedto attain. I have provided said air pump means comprising the air sacks28 and 28 and eccentric crank portion 2d adapted to alternately inflatethe portions desired to be animated in the opposing figures shown. Inplace of the sounding means Mi and Hi I have extended the necks 30 and30 of the air sacks 28 and 28 so that the air expelled therefrom may beguided to a portion such as the arm portion 52 of the boxer i8 and tothe arm 54 of the boxer 50. As shown in Fig. 3, the eccentric crankportion 2% has compressed the'sack .28 forcing the air through theelongated neck 30 and into the inflatable arm portion 54 of the boxer 50causing the arm to be inflated thereby moving and causing animation,self-inflation of the air sack 28 causing deflation of the arm portion52 of the boxer 48, causing it to lie limp at his side as shown.

As the eccentric crank portion 24 passes on to the sack 28 the sack 28returns to its normal shape drawing the air out of the arm portion 54causing it to shrink and drop to the position shown in Fig. 4. At thisinstant the eccentric crank portion 24 then compresses the sack 28causing the air to inflat the arm portion 52 of the boxer 48 causing itto move from a deflated position to a position contacting the boxer 50as shown in Fig. 4. The toy is thus so constructed so as to cause saidarm portions of the boxers to alternately be actuated, therebysimulating a boxing match with first one boxer striking the other andvice versa. It is thus obvious as long as the wheeled toy is kept inmotion this action will continue and the faster the motion the fasterthe action.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6 in place of sounding means [8 I have providedthe neck 30 of the air sack 28 with branches 58 and 60 to simultaneouslyinflate the inflatable and defiatable arm portions 62 and 64 of the twolovers 65 and 68. As the eccentric crank portion 24 deflates the sack 28the arms 62 and Mare raised from the dotted line positions to the fullline positions causing thev lovers to embrace, It is apparent that uponfurther rotation of the eccentric crank portion 24 from the sack 28 thesack 28 will self-inflate causing the arms 62 and 64 to deflate and dropto the dotted line positions shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The simultaneouscompression of the sack 28"" will cause the air to pass through thesounding means lfi to emit a sigh or a groan or whatever sound isdesired, between each embrace on each revolution of the wheels 22.

It is apparent that any other characters or objects capable ofbeinginfiated and deflated may be employed.

It is apparent, therefore, that I have provided a novel type of wheeledsounding and/ or animated toy with the advantages described above.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the embodimentsshown and that various deviations may be made therefrom withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a wheeled sounding toy, ground engaging wheels, a frame, an axlemounting said wheels having eccentric crank means rotatable onrevolution of at least one of said wheels, a hollow cylinder of greaterradius than said eccentric crank means mounted on said frame to surroundthe orbit of said eccentric crank means, a plurality of sounding reeds,a horn enclosing each reed and a plurality of deflatableself-inflatatable air sacks having necks and bodies with the necks ofsaid air sacks extending exterior of said cylinder and each neck havinga reel mounted in the open end thereof and the bodies of said sacksarranged in succession on the inner periphery of said cylinder so thatin inflated condition they extend into the orbit and path of saideccentric crank means, whereby said air sacks but not said necks aredeflated by said eccentric crank means the air being forced therefromthrough the necks to actuate said reeds on each revolution of saidwheel.

2. In a Wheeled sounding toy, ground engaging wheels, a frame, an axlemounting said wheels having eccentric crank means rotatable onrevolution of at least one of said wheels, a hollow cylinder of greaterradius than said eccentric crank means mounted on said frame to surroundthe orbit of said eccentric crank means, a plurality of air actuatedsound devices and a plurality of deflatable self-inflatable air sackshaving necks and bodies with the necks of said air sacks extendingexterior of said cylinder and each neck having a sound device connectedto the open end thereof and the bodies of said sacks arranged insuccession on the inner periphery of said cylinder so that in inflatedcondition they extend into the orbit and path of said eccentric crankmeans, whereby said air sacks but not said necks are deflated by saideccentric crank means the air being forced therefrom through the necksto actuate said sound devices on each revolution of said wheel.

3. In a wheeled toy, ground engaging wheels, a frame, an axle mountingsaid wheels having eccentric crank means rotatable on revolution of atleast one of said wheels, a hollow cylinder of greater radius than saideccentric crank means mounted on said frame to surround the orbit ofsaid eccentric crank means, toy devices having at least portions thereofpneumatically operated mounted on said frame and a plurality ofdefiatable self-inflatable air sacks having necks and bodies with thenecks of said air sacks extending exterior of said cylinder and eachneck having the open end thereof connected to a pneumatically operatedtoy portion and the bodies of said sacks arranged in succession on theinner periphery of said cylinder so that in inflated condition theyextend into the orbit and path of said eccentric crank means, wherebysaid air sacks but not said necks are deflated by said eccentric crankmeans the air being forced therefrom through the necks to actuate saidpneumatically operated toy portions on each revolution of said wheel.

HAROLD B. MORRIS.

No references cited.

